DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, but the plot and a few new characters. The rest I just borrow…
Summary: Nearly 7 years after Voldemort is defeated a new problem arises when Snape and Hermione's daughter is kidnapped. Hermione's coping with old injuries and Snape's being pulled back into his role as spy.
"Mmm… what is it?" Hermione asked groggily as she wearily opened her eyes to see her husband grabbing his cloak.
"It's Potter," Snape growled. "He's yelling through the fire."
"Harry..? What's he want? Is everything alright?" Hermione slowly sat up in their bed, her body aching.
Snape's expression smoothed as he approached his wife and gently kissed her burning forehead. "Yes, everything's fine. He just wants a word with the Order Members."
"What for?" Hermione slowly pushed the covers off her legs and shivered. Even with her long nightgown on the room seemed bitterly cold, undoubtedly due to her high fever.
"Something about a group of Death Eaters meeting." Snape frowned. "I'm sure it's nothing serious. You should lie back down and sleep. Even the idiotic healers in St. Mungo's agree with me that you need your rest."
"I'm doing much better." Hermione responded as she stood up. The room spun. Snape's strong arm caught her before she tipped over.
"Don't be foolish. Lay back down and rest." Snape helped support Hermione back to the bed. "Mrs. Mumblora is downstairs bathing Elysia. I'll see what Potter wants and then return to check on you." He gently placed the back of his hand on her forehead. "Your fever is decreasing… however, you are still exceedingly pale and you've hardly eaten anything in the past three days. Add those symptoms to the normal exhaustion that follows after giving birth to our daughter less than two weeks ago, and it's a bloody miracle you are awake to have this conversation. Rest, please." He gently stroked her cheek.
Hermione frowned. "We fought the war and won despite our injuries, illnesses, and grief…and yet now you don't want me to get out of bed because of some minor sickness. I'm not that weak, Severus."
"My point exactly, my dear. We survived all that and it would only be exceedingly foolish to risk everything by pushing your health too far." He began caressing her hand. "That's why Mrs. Mumblora's here to help and I'll return shortly and tell you every little pointless detail Potter wants to waste our time informing us about."
Hermione smiled. "Alright, I'll rest if you promise to tell me everything when you get back. And must you insist on calling Harry by his last name? I thought we were going to change that?"
"Old habits die hard." Snape responded as he released his wife's hand. Hermione chuckled.
"Try to be civil, Severus!" Hermione said encouragingly as Snape approached the bedroom door. He grimaced in response and then was gone. Hermione rolled onto her side and almost immediately felt the exhaustion climbing over her. She closed her eyes and was asleep a few minutes later.
"Mrs. Snape's still resting. I have to leave but will return shortly." Snape informed Mrs. Mumblora.
"Is she feeling better, Sir?" asked Mrs. Mumblora, her sharp old blue eyes filled with concern.
"Her condition has improved slightly. With more sleep I believe her health will continue to progress."
"Excellent. You see, little one, your mother will be back to herself in no time." Mrs. Mumblora crooned to the small bundle of turquoise blankets in her arms.
Snape nodded, "Indeed." Both he and Hermione had met with many people in an attempt to find a suitable Nanny. Hermione was originally against the idea of a full-time Nanny and, after much debate, Severus finally conceded and even agreed with her views. However, they did hope to find someone to assist them occasionally during the first month after Elysia was born. Minerva introduced them to Mrs. Mumblora. She was a strict woman with her white hair pulled into a tight braid down her back and sharp blue eyes that warmed instantly at the sight of a child. They hired her a month before Hermione was due to give birth. Unfortunately, they required her services earlier than the scheduled date.
About a week before Elysia was born some of Hermione's old scars and wounds opened up. She, like many of the Order Members, still occasionally faced the after-effects of some of the more severe curses she had been victim to during the war. The Healers at St. Mungo's speculated that Elysia's magical ability was increasing as Hermione neared her due-date and, somehow, Elysia's foreign magic might have caused a reaction with the magic residue of the old curses. As a result, Hermione became deathly ill and barely had the strength to survive her daughter's birth. If not for Snape's potions and the Healer's spells both Mother and Daughter would have died.
After the birth, Hermione had been placed on bed-rest and Mrs. Mumblora had been requested to move-in with the family until Hermione's health returned. Mrs. Mumblora had been exceedingly helpful around the house. Elysia also seemed fond of her caretaker and her health was definitely improving after the birth.
"Sir?"
Snape shook his head to clear it. "I'll return soon." He kissed his daughters silky head. Several black curls decorated Elysia's head. 'She'll have her mother's frizzy hair' Snape thought with a smile and tossed a handful of powder into the fire before stepping into the flames and yelling "Number Twelve Grimmauld Place!"
"This might seem minor, but we can't be positive. Voldemort's been dead for nearly seven years and most of his followers have been locked up or received the Dementor's kiss." Harry shivered, "However, the fact remains that several of them did meet less than a week ago and we have no idea what they discussed."
"Not to take the situation lightly, but…er… does it even matter what they discussed? I mean You-know-who has been dead for so long and most of the followers are still imprisoned like you said… or dead themselves." Neville shifted uncomfortably as everyone continued to look at him.
"Of course it does, Longbottom." Snape snapped. "The last thing we need is a contemporary group forming or the old one searching for a new leader."
Neville's face turned red but he kept his chin up. Snape felt a twinge of guilt as he remembered his promise to Hermione to be less severe with Neville. 'It's the lack of sleep and stress…' Snape thought defensively, but the guilt remained.
"Well, those are both two points we should consider." Harry continued, "Although Voldemort is gone and the threat should be minimal from these Deatheaters… we still don't want to disregard it only to find that they've gone and done something right under our noses. We still should have 'Constant Vigilance'." Harry's eyes roamed sadly over the table at the empty spaces where former Order Members once sat. Ginny, his wife, squeezed his hand in reassurance. Harry gave her a small smile and gently placed a hand on her growing stomach. She was pregnant with their second child. Their eldest son, James, was currently napping.
"So what should we do?" asked Ron.
"Keep a closer eye out. The Ministry is planning to monitor some of the individuals. The Order could also maybe track some of them and see if we can determine what their plan is. Any other suggestions?"
The Order members began listing suggestions and coordinating a schedule for who could track which Death Eater for a certain time period.
Hermione smiled faintly as Mrs. Mumblora carried Elysia into the bedroom. The old woman gently laid the infant in a sturdy white crib at the other end of the bedroom. Once the Healers had assured Hermione that her illness was not contagious she had requested that Elysia be brought into their room for naps during the day so that Hermione could see her daughter. At night Elysia was returned to the baby's room so she would grow accustomed to her environment and be closer to Mrs. Mumblora's guest room.
"How has she been doing today?" Hermione whispered.
"Quite well. Hardly cried all day. She, like her mother, needs her rest though." Mrs. Mumblora whispered back with a smile before walking across the room and shutting the bedroom door behind her.
Hermione shut her eyes and was on the verge of sleep when a distant crash startled her. It sounded like an entire cupboard of pots crashing to the floor downstairs. Hermione slowly sat up and wondered if Mrs. Mumblora was all right. A second later she heard a scream, "Get away! You have no right here!" Hermione heard another crash and reached for her wand on the bedroom table. Only problem was… it was gone. 'Shite!' Hermione mentally cursed as she remembered Severus taking it away to clean it last night.
Hermione threw the bedspread off her legs and stood up as Mrs. Mumblora opened the bedroom door and slammed it shut behind her. "They want Elysia!" Mrs. Mumblora shrieked as she gasped for breath.
Hermione ran for the crib as the door was blasted off its hinges. "Get away! Stupify!" Mrs. Mumblora yelled and brandished her wand as red shot off from its tip.
"Foolish woman." A man muttered, "Avada Kedavra!" A blast of green light filled the room as Mrs. Mumblora crumpled to the ground. Hermione gasped but knew it was too late. Mrs. Mumblora was dead. Dashing towards the crib, hands stretching, Hermione almost reached Elysia when…
"Stupify!" A man yelled. Hermione's head bashed against the wall. She groaned but tried to stand when another curse hit her and knocked her to the ground.
"Avada-" the man started.
"NO!" screamed a woman. "She is not to be killed. You know the orders. Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione was frozen. Two figures dressed completely in black with masks covering their faces approached her.
"Where's the child?" asked the man in a gruff voice.
"In the crib you idiot." The shorter of the two figures approached the crib and gently lifted Elysia. "Alright let's go," said the woman as she cradled Elysia in her arms.
"See you around, Mudblood." the man chuckled.
"Hope your husband gets home soon…" the woman hissed. "Otherwise all this will have been pointless…" Without another word they walked out of the room. Hermione was mentally screaming but physically frozen on the ground as her daughter was taken away.
"Alright, then that leaves Tuesday and Thursday evenings for me…" said Harry as he glanced over the schedule the Order Members had just created. "Well, that should do it for now. We'll host another meeting soon for reports. Thanks everyone." The Order members stood up and began gathering their personal belongings for their departures.
Snape rose with his own schedule clutched in his hand. He exited the room and approached the fire when someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was Potter.
"How's Hermione?" asked Harry, "Ginny and I… er… have just been concerned." Ginny approached and stood by her husband's side.
"Hermione… has been improving. I have reason to believe she should be near perfect health by the end of the month. Your concern is…" Snape's mouth twisted, "appreciated."
Potter nodded.
"And the baby, Elysia?" Ginny pressed.
"Her condition has improved as well. I expect…I expect Hermione would enjoy a visit once she has fully recovered."
"That would be excellent. Please keep us updated," requested Ginny.
"I will." Snape promised.
"And if there's… anything we can do, let us know." Potter extended his hand. Snape shook the hand and nodded before hastily grabbing a handful of floo powder and returning home.
"Mrs. Mumblora?" Snape called.
No answer.
"Mrs. Mum-" Snape froze. The kitchen floor was covered by pans and broken glasses.
"Hermione…" he whispered and ran towards the stairs. He flew up the staircase and reached the bedroom doorway. He noticed immediately the broken door lying on the ground. "Hermione?! Elysia!!" he called alarmed.
Stepping over the broken door and entering the bedroom, Snape was confronted with Mrs. Mumblora's small corpse. He paused but knew the symptoms of death when he saw them. His eyes riveted on the empty crib. "No!" Snappe roared. 'Elysia must be here somewhere' he thought desperately. He scanned the room. That's when he saw Hermione.
For one heartbeat his stomach clenched and he thought she was dead. Hermione lay on the floor frozen. "No…" he breathed, but her eyes! Her eyes! 'She's alive!' for a second he felt the blood rushing to his head.
"Hermione," he whispered as he bent down to examine her. She had a slight bruise forming on her forehead but, other than that, she seemed fine. He waved his wand and checked for lingering curses. Noticing her rigid posture he correctly surmised what spell she had been hit with and instantly muttered the counter curse.
"Severus," she cried. "They took her. They took Elysia."
Snape wrapped his arms around his shaken wife. "Who? Who took her? Who did this?"
"I don't know," sobbed Hermione. "They were masked. They chased Mrs. Mum- Mrs-"
"It's alright." He whispered as his heart hammered.
"They chased her in here- and she tried to warn us- they wanted Elysia! They…. they wore masks and heavy cloaks. I don't know who they were. I tried to… I tried to stop them- wand was gone- so they shot some spells at me. Then the woman waked to the cradle and… and took her!" Tears streamed down Hermione's cheeks as Snape clutched his wife tightly to him. For a moment they had no words.
After a few seconds Hermione began dabbing her eyes and stood up. "We have to find her."
Snape nodded. "Accio Hermione's wand!" They heard a slight whistling noise as it flew upstairs and into Snape's outstretched hand. He tossed it to Hermione and they dashed downstairs. The front door was open but, other than the mess in the kitchen, there appeared to be no sign of a struggle. The wards on the house were still intact.
"How could they have gotten in? What spells did they use?" muttered Snape to himself.
Hermione gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. "It's so simple." Her hand dropped. "Severus, they acted like Muggles!"
"What?"
"They- oh how could we not predict this. Of course they didn't break the magical wards. They knew our wards could withstand almost anything. So that left one option: acting like a Muggle."
"I'm not following…"
"Think about it, Severus. The wards we create can withstand any magical attempts to break-in. No one can apparate or floo into our house without our permission. We're protected against evil spells that may wish to harm our house or those within. We've even set up some protection against Muggle burglars that might attempt to rob our house. If they make any attempt to force their way in they'll find themselves suddenly blasted to the street. However…" her eyes grew wide, "we never added any protection against guests. All they had to do was knock on the door…. If Mrs. Mumblora answered it and invited them inside none of the wards would have stopped them… Once they were fully within the house they could do as they pleased. Oh how could we be so stupid!" Hermione raged and covered her face with her hands.
"Bugger…" Severus cursed. "But who were they? Mrs. Mumblora must have known them or assumed we knew them if she was to invite them inside… And what would they want with Elysia? Why not go for you… or me?"
"They didn't kill me. The man was about to… but the woman stopped him. Why? Unless…"
"Unless they planned to use us for later." Snape responded, "They didn't kill Elysia. Instead they took her… Why? No… not unless…they wanted her for ransom… or better yet… blackmail."
"Blackmail? Why? Oh… oh no. The woman! The woman said it would all be pointless unless you got home soon."
"Yes. Of course. The only daughter from the union of a former spy and one member of the golden trio. As long as they have her, they can use it against us. It's the best bargaining chip." Snape frowned and began pacing the floor. "Not to mention Harry Potter's own goddaughter and niece. Damn!"
"Harry. We've got to alert the Order." Hermione waved her wand and transformed her nightgown into some blue robes and cloak.
"They can't help. But yes, there's nothing else we can do at this point." Snape frowned and snatched his wife's hand. With a 'pop!' they were gone.
"What should we do?" Harry asked.
"Nothing. There's nothing we can do." Snape sighed.
They had apparated to the front steps of Grimmauld Place several hours ago and pounded on the door until a tired Harry opened the door. His eyes widened as he took in the shabby appearance of both Snape and Hermione on his doorstep. He hastily welcomed them inside where they called an Order meeting and explained the day's events. Every detail had been reviewed at least three times before a depressed silence descended upon the crowd. Ginny had fetched tea for everyone but both Snape's and Hermione's teacups remained untouched.
Hermione sighed and turned her head away from her husband. He watched her movement with concern but continued, "We must wait. They will contact us soon. They have a plan. The Ministry can pull some of the Death Eaters in for questioning, but they will probably discover nothing. We can only wait."
Hermione's hand clenched on her robes. Snape gently reached for it and squeezed his own hand in reassurance. She responded by pulling her hand away and crossing her arms.
George whistled. "Wait. Just wait. I can't believe this has happened."
"Nor can I. Hermione, Severus, I'm so sorry." Ginny said sadly. "You both look exhausted. If we only can wait, perhaps we should get some sleep. You are both more than welcome to stay here. In fact, I insist that you be our guests. It'll probably be your safest option."
"No." Snape said firmly, "thank you but no. If they plan on contacting us I'll need to be home. However, if it's not too much trouble I would appreciate it if Hermione could stay with you for a short time."
"Of cour-" Ginny began.
"No." Hermione interrupted. "I'm coming home too. If they do try to contact us I want to be there." She did not meet her husband's eyes. 'After all, it's my fault' whispered a traitorous voice in her head. Some part of Hermione felt horribly guilty. She sensed Snape reaching for her hand again, but shook her head. 'How can he stand to touch me…?'
"Hermione, your health…" he whispered.
"I'm fine. You said so yourself. I'm getting better." Her body ached but she welcomed the pain.
"Very well, I think we'll return now. We'll be in contact tomorrow." Snape rose and tilted his head to the room. Without another word the couple exited the house and apparated into their living room.
The silence was overwhelming. With a few flicks of his wand Snape cleared the kitchen floor. Hermione watched without comment but still refused to make eye contact. Once he finished she turned and hastily approached the stairs.
"Hermione," Snape called gently.
She didn't turn.
"Hermione!" Snape called again.
"What?!" She demanded and turned around.
"Don't do this…" he pleaded.
"Do what? I'm not doing anything." She responded fiercely.
"Blaming yourself. It's not your fault…"
"You have no idea." She crossed her arms, "leave me alone. Please." Her voice was weary.
"Hermione who are you married to?! Who did I serve for years? Of course I have an idea! I was there when similar crimes were committed. I even… I even helped pass on information that would almost guarantee similar crimes occurred successfully. What do you think happened when parents were left without children? Or children left without parents?! They'd blame themselves or each other. But it was pointless! I watched these crimes being committed! Those innocent people had no bloody chance of preventing what was planned. They could do nothing. It's not your fault! If it's anyone's it's… It's mine." He turned away from her softening expression. "I should've known the past would continue to haunt me. There will always be those who want to harm me, or want me dead. I'm… I'm sorry for getting you into this. Perhaps you should go. I'll get Elysia back and then leave."
Hermione watched her husband's body language change. His shoulders tightened and his body grew stiff. It was the shield she had battled with him for years to drop and let her in. Cautiously she approached him. He did not move. Tentatively she placed a hand on his arm. He glanced at her and then looked away. Gently she laid her other hand on his chin and turned his head to face her. She looked up into his eyes.
"I chose you." She said firmly, "and I love you. We both have a history. You were right… I can't blame myself completely but nor can you. We must work together to… to get her back." Hermione's voice caught.
Snape gently cupped his wife's chin and tilted it up while bending down to kiss her. The pain was strong and bitter. Their kiss deepened as they clung to each other. Hermione slid her hands around her husband's neck as he slowly wrapped his other arm around her waist.
Several minutes passed before the finally broke apart. Without a word they moved to sit on the couch by the fire and held tightly to one another's hands. Sleep was slow to come but, in each other's arms, they felt safe.
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